Jubilant crowds gathered today in cities across Syria for the first Friday Prayer since rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad. Elsewhere in the country, Russia’s military appeared to be packing up equipment at a critical base.

A Times analysis of satellite images of the Khmeimim air base showed transport planes prepared for loading and Russian equipment apparently being packed up nearby. Videos also showed at least one convoy of Russian military vehicles on the move. If Russia is removing equipment, it would highlight the uncertainty of its foothold in Syria.

In Damascus, people waved revolutionary flags at the historic Umayyad Mosque, where al-Assad had long suppressed antigovernment demonstrations with brutal violence. Joyful chants erupted over the collapse of a long authoritarian dynasty.

There, the caretaker prime minister delivered a sermon calling on Syrians to build a new state based on freedom, dignity and justice.

The largely celebratory mood belied the monumental challenges facing Syria, a country still racked by sectarian divisions after a 13-year civil war that human rights groups estimate killed hundreds of thousands of people.